EP 0927959 A3 20000927 - Postage metering system and method for automatic detection of remote postage security devices on a network
Title (en)
Postage metering system and method for automatic detection of remote postage security devices on a network
Title (de)
Frankiersystem und Verfahren zur automatischen Detektion von ferngesteuerten Frankiersicherheitsvorrichtungen in einem Netz
Title (fr)
Système d'affranchissement et procédé pour la détection automatique des dispositifs de sécurité d'affranchissement à distance dans un reseau
Publication
Application
Priority
US 99335397 A 19971218
Abstract (en)
[origin: EP0927959A2] A postage metering system (10) includes a plurality of printer modules (20, 22) connected as part of a network and operating as clients on the network. Postal security devices (40) (PSDs) are coupled the clients (20, 22). Each PSD (40) is local to the coupled client functioning as a host to the PSD and remote to the other of the plurality of clients. The PSD includes unique identification, postal value storage and a digital signature generator. The clients function as a postage metering network (10) wherein a client requests evidence of postage payment from a remote PSD (40) for concluding postage metering transactions. Each of the clients determines which of the remote PSDs are available for metering transactions on the network by broadcast messages and requests. In one embodiment, a broadcast request for the identity of remote PSDs whose host is logged onto the network is sent over the network by a client when the client logs onto the network. Additional broadcast requests are periodically sent over the network by the client to other clients logged onto the network. Broadcast messages indicating the unique identification of the PSD coupled to a host are sent over the network by the host when the host logs onto the network. Additional broadcast messages are sent periodically over the network by the host. Another broadcast message indicating that a PSD is no longer available is sent over the network by the host when it logs off the network. In alternate embodiments a network server controls broadcast requests and messages. <IMAGE>
IPC 1-7
IPC 8 full level
B65G 61/00 (2006.01); G06Q 30/00 (2006.01); G06Q 50/00 (2006.01); G07B 17/00 (2006.01)
CPC (source: EP US)
G07B 17/0008 (2013.01 - EP US); G07B 17/00733 (2013.01 - EP US); G07B 2017/00096 (2013.01 - EP US); G07B 2017/00137 (2013.01 - EP US); G07B 2017/00201 (2013.01 - EP US); G07B 2017/00241 (2013.01 - EP US); G07B 2017/00322 (2013.01 - EP US); G07B 2017/00766 (2013.01 - EP US); G07B 2017/00967 (2013.01 - EP US)
Citation (search report)
- [PXA] WO 9814909 A2 19980409 - E STAMP CORP [US]
- [A] EP 0775988 A2 19970528 - NEOPOST IND [FR]
- [DA] EP 0780809 A2 19970625 - PITNEY BOWES INC [US]
Designated contracting state (EPC)
AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE
DOCDB simple family (publication)
EP 0927959 A2 19990707; EP 0927959 A3 20000927; EP 0927959 B1 20100505; AU 762204 B2 20030619; AU 9717898 A 19990708; BR 9805464 A 19991116; CA 2255998 A1 19990618; CA 2255998 C 20030916; CN 1145903 C 20040414; CN 1223414 A 19990721; DE 69841647 D1 20100617; ES 2342349 T3 20100705; JP H11328464 A 19991130; US 6098058 A 20000801
DOCDB simple family (application)
EP 98124248 A 19981218; AU 9717898 A 19981217; BR 9805464 A 19981218; CA 2255998 A 19981214; CN 98125519 A 19981218; DE 69841647 T 19981218; ES 98124248 T 19981218; JP 37810698 A 19981218; US 99335397 A 19971218